TOWNSVILLE Premier League footballers will have the chance to test themselves against Socceroos and a former Johhny Warren medallist in an exhibition game as part of the inaugural Townsville Football Cup.

A North Queensland All Stars team, made up of the best players from Townsville, Ingham and the Burdekin, will take on A-league outfit the Newcastle Jets, which features World Cup squad member Mark Birighitti, former Socceroos Joel Griffiths and David Carney and 2011 A League MVP Marcos Flores next month.

This match is a golden opportunity for players in the region, who currently have limited representative chances, and Rebels coach Mick Tonner said it should provide plenty of incentive for players this month.

“Local players don’t often get the opportunity to play in a rep team so the fact that they’re playing an A-League team is an added bonus,” said Tonner.

“I am sure this announcement will see players train even harder in the coming weeks while the team is short-listed.”

Coaches of all local premier league teams have been asked to nominate players to Northern Fury coaching director Ian Ferguson, who along with Fury’s technical director Harry Bingham, will finalise the 18 man squad.

“I’m obviously familiar with my own team, but I also know there are other good players in the teams we meet week-in, week-out, who will be very proud to represent North Queensland,” Tonner said.

The team will take on the Jets in a curtain-raiser on the final day of the week long tournament on August 30 at the Townsville Sports Reserve.

The All Stars concept is the latest initiative for Townsville footballers to compete at a higher level, following the introduction of the nationwide FFA Cup competition and the Northern Club Challenge over the last two years.

An attempt to revive a Townsville representative team came up short last year after Cairns and Mackay pulled out their teams at the last minute.

Fellow A-league teams Brisbane Roar and Sydney FC are also making the trip for the pre-season tournament, which will also feature the Northern Fury.

Fury coach Ferguson said the All Stars game was a great opportunity for players from around the region who are not involved in his side to press their case against some of the nation’s top players.

The NQ All Stars squad will be finalised in early August to give the team a four-week window to prepare for the match.

Comments on this story

Paul LyNam of Bogota, Colombia Posted at 8:15 AM July 16, 2014

Soccer in the north was at its best in the late 70s and early 80s with Kern United and the State League. Lets hope we can obtain some recognition for North Queensland and start to get more quality teams to visit the north. The Sports reserve was the home for Kern United so lets hope soon we can have another team call the Sports Reserve home !